Multiple compartment ampule and hypodermic syringe



y 3, 1938. M. LOZIERETAL v 2,115,731

' MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT AMPULE AND HYPODERMIC SYRING E Filed Feb. 4, 1957NA 7'7'HEW LOZ/E'R v CLAY TON FROJ 7' INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented May3,1938 UNITED STATE PATENTQOFFICEY Application February 4, 1931, SerialNo."124,0l r 80mm. (01.1287-215) This invention relates to amultipl ecompartment ampule and to a hypodermic syringe designed for use withsaid ampule.

An object of this invention is to provide a container having separatecompartments containing dissimilar ingredients, the said compartmentsbeing defined by spaced stoppers of pierceable material and which areslidably positioned in. the container. V v

10 Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple compartmentampuie which may be inserted into a hypodermic syringe for surgical ordental use. I

Another object of this invention isto'provide a hypodermic syringehaving a plunger with a piercing element, the said element having achannel designed to provide communication between the compartments inthe said ampule when the piercing element is pushed through adjacentstoppers.

with the above and other objects in view, the

invention will be hereinafter more particularly described in connectionwith the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the'claims which formpart of thisjspeciilcation.

Reference will now be had'to the drawing,

wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the-several views, in which: j Figure 1 is a centrallongitudinal cross-sectional view of our multiple compartment -ampule'having disks in predetermined spaced relation therein, and beingdesigned for surgical or dental use, in conjunction with a hypodermicsyringe 36 having a piercing element designed for the purpose, theampule being shown on an enlarged scale. Figure 2 is a cross-sectionalview or a fragmentary portion of the ampule with the piercing 40 elementinserted in two adjoining disks therein and with the said disksremaining in the position shown in Figure l. Figure 3 is across-sectional view of the'a'mpule after the liquid in one compartmenthas been transferred into the other compartment; and shows the piercingelement inserted through two adjoining disks in the ampule.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary'portion of a slidable plunger having thepiercing element and forming part of a hypodermic syringe shown inFigure 5.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a hypodermic syr- Q inge adapted for use withour multiple compartment ampule, showing all the disks inpo- 66 sitionwhen theliquid in the ampule has been discharged'and shows the piercingelement withdrawn.

In the illustrated embodiment oi the invention" the numeral IIIindicates a cross-sectional. viewof our double compartment ampule, com-5 prising an elongated tubular outer member or casing preferably made ofglassfiand having a plurality of disk-shaped stoppers I2, I2 and I!inserted. "Thestoppers are preferably made of a' yieldable material suchas rubber, and are 10 of suillcientlylarge external diameter tofrictionallg engage the internal diameter of the tubular member ll insealing relation. v

Figure l shows the ampule with the stoppers positioned therein in spacedrelation so as to form two compartments i3, H, which may containdissimilar liquids and is hermetically "sealed' from eachother by thedisks i2 due to its fric tional sealing engagement in the tubular memberii. It will be noted that in Figure l'the 20 disk I! is positioned atornear one end i5 of the tubular member ii," andthat'the disk l2 is spacedat a predetermined distance therefrom to form the compartment 13, whilethe'disk I23 has been positionedinwardly from the end lfif'of 25 thetubular member "so as to form the 'closed" compartment i4.;-,'I'hisposition of the disk i2 between the end it and the stopper I2 is govemedby the length or; the compartment [3. 'The length of the open endspace'is substantially the 80, same as the length of the compartment IS.The end space is essential to permit the movement ofthe disk l2" whenthe liquid in the compartment i3 is transferred into the compartment i4.I

For" the purpose of our inventiom all the stop- 85 per'smust bepositioned entirely inside and frictionally slidable in the tubularmember N. Figture I shows the ampule' ill with three stoppers or disksof the same diameter throughout their length positioned before theliquid in the con'i'-' partment i! has been transferred into the compartment l4. 1 j Figure 2 'shows a iragmentary portion of an ampule iiihaving the piercing element 20 of a hypodermic syringe-plunger insertedin the disks l2 and I2 v i Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of anampule l0 having the piercing element 20 inserted in the disks l2 and-I2and the said disks moved inwardly of the casing l I. t Figure 4 shows afragmenta' 1 portion of the plunger I'I forming part of the hypodermicsy'r-- inge i8 shownin Figure 5'. It will be'noted that the head I! ofthe plunger l'l has secured thereto a hollowpiercing element 20 having asharp ness of the-enddisk l2.

Due to the""sharpness oi the piercings-element and the frictionalresistance of the disks l2, I2 and I2 in the tubular member Ii, it ispossible to pierce the stoppers or disks l2 and I2 by exerting manualpressure against the handle '23 of the plunger l1 without altering theposition of the said disks. It is to be notedthat the piercing element20 may also be utilized-independently oi the plunger of the hypodermicsyr-' inge I8.

When the compartments Ill and I4 containliquids, due to theincompressibilityoi the liquids, when further pressure is exertedagainst the plunger I! it will cause the disk 12 to be moved intocontacting relation with the disk and the disk I2 to move simultaneouslyand equally to the end II of the ampule Ill, since the channel 22 in thepiercing element 20 connects the co partments l3 and I4 and permitstransfer of the liquid from the compartment ll into the com- DartmentII. It is to be noted that both end disks l2 and I2 are movablesimultaneously and equally while the intennediate disk I 2 remainsfixedv during said liquid transferrence. v

Further outer movement 01' the disk I 2 is prevented by the front innerend of. the hypodermic syringe la in which the ampule"! may be confinedduring the trarlsi'errlng operation.

Further movement oi the plunger I! will cause the discharge of thecombined liquids from the compartment II when the inner end of ahypodermic needle 24 passes through the disk I2 As shown in Figure l,the disk I 2 has a cavity 28, to permit the piercing element to enterthereinand thus allow the disk I2 to get into substantially contactingrelation withthe disk l2 in the position when the element I! has alreadythrough the disks I2 and l2 -and the ampule has been discharged of itsliquids.

It is to be noted. that while it is preferable to provide a cavity inthe disk II as above mentioned, it is possible for the ampule to beoperable when the disk I2 is without a cavity. Also when the disks l2and I2 similar to cavity 26.

rIt is to be noted that when the compartments II and ll contain liquids,thatall three separators will move during the discharging operation.However, when one of the ingredientsis in powder form or semi-solid formonly two of the separators will be moved.

It is also to, be noted that while we havedisclosed separators in soliddisk form and also in a form showing a cavity in the disk, that, theseseparators may take the form of cup washers (not shown).

It is also to be noted that the are provided with cavities gist 01 ourinvention is to make it possible to bring dissimilar materials confinedin separated compartments into contacting relation. As shown in Figure1, the separated compartments l2 and I4 are in one casing Ii it is,however, within the scope of our invention to house the dissimilarmaterials in independent casings and to join them into operativerelation (not shown) so as to carry out the objects oi ourinventionwhich are carried out in the embodiment shown.

In accordance with the patent statutes we have described and illustratedthe preferred embodiment of our invention, but it will be understoodthat various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope oi. the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

We-claim: g l

1. In a multiple compartment ampule oi the class described comprising atubular outer memher and three spaced disks irictionally secured insealing relation therein to form separated liquid compartmentshermetically sealed from each other, said disks being at least partiallycentrally intact and being pierceable, all of said disks being 01' .thesame diameter throughout their length and being entirely. inside saidtubular member, two of said'disks being in closely spaced relation atone end and one oi said disks being positioned inwardly oi the oppositeend to form an open space at said end, the length of said end spacebeing substantiallythesame as the distance between said closely spaceddisks, said end space being substantially filled bysaid inwardlypositioned disk by outward movement thereof to permit transi'errence ofthe liquid from the compartment between said closely spaced disks intothe lengthened adjacent, compartment .when said, closely spaceddisks aresuccessively perforated, both end disks being movable simultaneously andequally while the intermediate disk remains fixedduring said liquidtransi'en'ence. I

2. A multiple compartment ampule having a plurality of 'disks and beingadapted for use in a syringe having two needles for piercing the'disks'from opposite ends of said ampule, comprising a' tubular outer memberand three spaced disks frictionally secured in sealing relation thereinto form separated compartments hermetically sealed from each other, twooi'said" disks being respectively positioned substantially at the endsof said tubular member and one of said disks being positioned in spaced.relation' between said end disks, one of said end disksbeing at one endof said tubular member and the other end disk being positionedinwardly'oithe opposite end to form an open space at said end-said openspace being substantially closed by said inwardly positioned disk duringoperation of said ampule.

3. A multiple compartment ampule oi the class described. comprising atubular outer member and three spaced 'disksirictionally secured insealing relation therein to form separated compartments hermeticallysealed from. each other. all of said disks being pierceable and normallyimperiorate, all 01' said disksbeing oi the same diameter throughouttheir length and being entirely inside said tubular member, two of saiddisks being in closely spaced relation at one end and one of said disksbeing positionedinwardly oi the opposite end to form an. open space atsaid end, the length oi said end space being substan; tially the same asthe distance between. said closely spaced end disks. said end spacebeing substantially filled by outward movement of said inward lypositioned disk during said transierrence when said closely spaced disksare successively perforated, both end disks being movable simultaneouslyand equally while the intermediate disk remains fixed during said liquidtransferrence.

4. A multiple compartment ampule having a plurality of disks and beingadapted for use in a syringe having two needles for piercing the disksfrom opposite ends of said ampule, comprising a tubular outer member anda plurality of spaced disks irictionally. secured insealing relatlontherein to form separated compartments hermetically sealed from eachother, all of said disks being of the same diameter throughout theirlength and being entirely inside said tubular member, two of said disksbeing in close relation at one end and one of said disks beingpositioned inwardly of the opposite end to form an open space outsidethe disk at said end, said open space being substantially filled by saidinwardly positioned disk during operation of said ampule, and said diskhaving a cavity in one face thereof. a 5. In combination with a multiplecompartment ampule of the class described, a hypodermic syringe plungerhaving a piercing element at one end and said element having a channelpositioned lengthwise thereof, one end of said channel being openlaterally of said piercing element and the other end of said channelbeing open at one end of said piercing'element, said element having onepiercing end, said ampule having three disks in spaced relation thereinand one of said disks being positioned inwardly at one end to form anopen space outside the disk at said end, said open space beingsubstantially filled by said inwardly positioned disk during operation0! said ampule.

6. In combination with a multiple compartment ampule of the classdescribed, said ampule having three disks in spaced relation therein, ahypodermic syringe plunger having a piercing element at one end, two ofsaid spaced disks being positioned at one end or said ampule to besuccessively penetrated by said piercing element, said element having achannel positioned axially thereof, said channel having inlet meanslaterally and-intermediate the ends of said piercing element and havingan outlet at one end of said element, a collar flxed to said piercingelement, said lateral inlet means being spaced from said collar adistance substantially equal to the thickness of the end disk to beinitially penetrated.

7. In combination with a multiple compartment ampule of the classdescribed, a piercing element having one piercing end and a collar atthe end opposite the piercing end, 'said element having a channelpositioned axially thereof, said channel having inlet means laterallyand intermediate the ends of said element, said ampule having threedisks in spaced relation therein, two

of said spaced disks being positioned at one end of said ampule to besuccessively penetrated by said piercing element, said lateral inletmeans being spaced from said collar a distance substantially equal tothe thickness of the end disk to be initially penetrated, onev diskbeing positioned inwardly at one end of said ampule to form an openspace outside the disk at said end, said open space being substantiallyfilled by said inwardly positioned disk during operation of said ampule.

8. A multiple ampule having a plurality of disks and being adapted foruse in a syringe having two needles for piercing the disks from oppositeends 0! said ampule, comprising tubular outer confining means and aplurality of spaced separators frictionally secured in sealing relationin said confining means to form separated compartmentshermeticallysealed from each other, all of said separators being of thesame diameter throughout their length and slidable in said tubularconfining means. throughout its length.

m'rnmw mzms. CLAYTON H. mm.

